Multiple menu selector

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for displaying menu indicia cards, containing segments of a meal, in aligned relation so that the relationship of courses and prices may be easily determined. A plurality of drums are mounted for rotation on a single shaft with each of the drums being releasably restrained in adjusted position. The drums may be moved axially on the shaft to permit the changing of menu indicia bearing cards secured to the surface of the drums. A modified form of the invention utilizes a plurality of superposed discs arranged so that an element on one disc maintains the indicia-bearing cards in their holders on the face of the superposed disc. The discs are releasably secured in adjusted position so that an aligned group of menu segments may be provided. Another modified form of the invention utilizes a plurality of sliding bars having a mechanism for securing the bars in an adjusted position with an aligned arrangement of meal segments visible.

United States Patent Drowns [4 1 Jan. 18, 1972 [54] MULTIPLE MENUSELECTOR [72] Inventor: Ronald G. Drowns, Sheraton-Daytona,

Apt. 237, Box 3235, Daytona, Fla. 32018 [22] Filed: June 25, 1969 [21]Appl.No.: 836,319

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerL. AntenAtt0rneyl(immel, Crowell & Weaver [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus fordisplaying menu indicia cards, containing segments of a meal, in alignedrelation so that the relationship of courses and prices may be easilydetermined. A plurality of drums are mounted for rotation on a singleshaft with each of the drums being releasably restrained in adjustedposition. The drums may be moved axially on the shaft to permit thechanging of menu indicia bearing cards secured to the surface of thedrums. 'A modified form of the invention utilizes a plurality ofsuperposed discs arranged so that an element on one disc maintains theindicia-bearing cards in their holders on the face of the superposeddisc. The discs are releasably secured in adjusted position so that analigned group of menu segments may be provided. Another modified form ofthe invention utilizes a plurality of sliding bars having a mechanismfor securing the bars in an adjusted position with an alignedarrangement of meal segments visible.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEU Jun 8 m2 SHEET 1 OF 3 EIIIILPIIEIll 1/1 I "VET KTOR OWNS,

ATTORNEYS PATENTEB m 1 8 mg SHEET 2 OF 3 ATTORFIIIXLfi MULTIPLE MENUSELECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thepresent invention relates to multiple menu selectors and is intendedprimarily for the use of persons giving estimates for the cost ofproviding banquets and catering services. With this device the estimatorcan quickly align the meal segment indicia cards in accordance with thedesires of the committee and then by adding up the individual prices onthe cards, can give a final price per plate for the banquet. Theindividual indicia-carrying members may be arranged so that there is aseparate member for each course to be served so that the committee andthe estimator can easily see how the final cost is determined and whatitems of necessity have to be changed in order to change the cost of themeal. The invention may also be used by individual diners, in place ofprinted menus, to order his meal.

2. Description of the Prior Art In prior art banquet estimating theestimator was provided with long lists of complete meals and it wasnecessary for the estimator and the committee to pore over these listsuntil the meal closest to their desires, both as to the items served andas to the price, was found. Even after a meal is selected by thismethod, the committee quite often desires to have one or more itemsswapped or changed causing considerable confusion on the part of theestimator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to apparatusfor holding a plurality of indicia cards with each card carrying asegment of a meal and with a plurality of cards arranged on each of aplurality of changeable members so that a wide variety of meals may beestablished by adjusting the members.

The members may be drums, discs, or sliding bars in accordance withthree modifications of the generic invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation of theinvention shown partially broken away and in section for convenience ofillustration;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. Ilooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken along the line3-3 of FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is atop plan view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross section of the detentmechanism;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view shown partially broken away and in section ofanother modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse cross section taken along the line 99of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the detent mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsin detail wherein like reference characters indicate like partsthroughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicatesgenerally a multiple menu selector constructed in accordance with theinventron.

The multiple menu selector 20 includes a generally rectangular housing21 having a bottom wall 22, a backwall 23, a front wall 24 arrangedparallel to the backwall 23 and having a height substantially less thanthe backwall 23, and a pair of oppositely disposed end walls 25, 26connecting the opposite ends of the bottom wall 22, backwall 23 andfront wall 24. A sloping transparent plastic wall 27 is secured to thefront wall 24 by a plurality of hinges 28 and has a top wall 29 fixedlysecured thereto to hinge therewith in order to completely open the topof the housing 21. A catch 30 on the top wall 29 cooperates with adetent 31 on the rear wall 23 to secure the top wall 29 in closedposition. The sloping wall 27 has a plurality of spaced-apart narrowslots 32 formed therein for reasons to be assigned. The wall 27 iscoated so am to be opaque leaving a plurality of rectangular visualwindows W for reasons to be assigned.

A shaft 33 extends longitudinally of the housing 21 and has threadedends 34, 35 which extend respectively through the end walls 25, 26 andare secured thereto by nuts 36. A plurality of drums 37 are journaled onthe shaft 33 and each is provided with a generally cylindrical surface38 and a disc-shaped flange 39 having a diameter greater than thecylindrical surface 38. The flange 39 is provided with notches 40 in theperipheral edge thereof which extends through the slot 32 for engagementby the fingers of the user to rotate the drums 37 on the-shaft 33. Aspring detent 41 is secured to the bottom wall 22 to underlie each ofthe discs 39 and is arranged to resiliently engage in the notches 40, ascan be clearly seen in FIG. 2, restraining the drums 37 against rotarymovement but being able to spring downwardly out of the notches 40 whenthe drum 37 is rotated by hand.

The cylindrical surfaces 38 of the drums 37 are provided with aplurality of transverse T-members 42 which are adapted to receive anindicia-bearing card 43 to secure its upper and lower edges holding thecard 43 to the cylindrical surface 38. The cards 43 can be slid axiallyor laterally of the drum 37 away from the disc 39 to remove the cards 43from the drum 37 when a change is desired, but are constrained againstlengthwise movement about the drum periphery by the T- members 42.

A spacer washer 44 is positioned between each of the adjacent drums 37to permit their rotation without undue interference with each other. Adisc 45 is journaled on the shaft 33 adjacent one of the drums 37. Acoil spring 46 is positioned on the shaft 33 and resiliently biases thedisc 45 toward the adjacent drum 37. Other drums 37 on the shaft 33 areon the opposite side of the disc 45 and the spring 46 engagesthereagainst to maintain them at their end of the shaft 33. Sufficientspace is left adjacent the disc 45 between the drums 37 at the spring 46to permit the drums 37 to be slid axially along the shaft 33 when it isdesired to change the indicia cards 43 therein. The disc 39 retains theindicia cards 43 in the next adjacent drum 37 against sliding movementexcept when the drum 37 is moved endwise on the shaft 33 to allow spaceat the end of the indicia card 43 to permit its removal. The disc 45holds the indicia cards 43 in the drum 37 adjacent the space and thedisc 45 can be moved endwise on the shaft 33 to release the adjacentindicia cards 43. The drum 37 at the extreme end of the shaft 33adjacent the end wall 25 has the indicia cards 43 held therein againstendwise sliding movement by the end wall 25 and in order to change theindicia cards in the drum 37 adjacent the end wall 25, it must be slidendwise of the shaft 33 toward the disc 45 to provide sufficient space.Prior to moving any of the drums 37 endwise on the shaft 33, the walls27 and 29 must be swung to open position.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, a modified form of the multiple menuselector is generally indicated at 50.

The multiple menu selector 50 comprises a base disc 51 having anupstanding peripheral flange 52 formed thereon. A shaft 53 extendsvertically through the base 51 and has a head 54 inset into the base 51and secured thereto. The shaft 53 has a reduced diameter threaded upperextension 55 formed integrally thereon and adapted to receive a T-nut 56on the upper end thereof for reasons to be assigned.

A plurality of tubular detent sockets 57 extend transversely of theshaft 53 in vertically equal spaced relation and have a reduced diameterterminal end 58 with the opposite end 59 internally threaded. A detentball 60 is positioned in the socket 57 and is seated in the reduced endportion 58 by a spring 61 held in the socket 57 by a threaded plug 62.

A disc 63 isjournaled on the shaft 53 and has its peripheral edgeterminating closely adjacent to but slightly spaced from the flange 52on the base 51. An annular upstanding flange 65 is formed on the disc 63spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 64 thereof. The height of theflange 52 corresponds to the thickness of the disc 63 not including theflange 65. A disc 66 is journaled on the shaft 53 and has its peripheraledge 67 terminating adjacent to but spaced inwardly from the flange 65on the disc 63. An upstanding annular flange 68 is formed on the disc 66spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 67 thereof. A disc 69 isjournaled on the shaft 53 and has its peripheral edge 70 closelyadjacent to but spaced inwardly from the flange 68. An annular flange 71is formed on the disc 69 in upstanding relation thereto spaced inwardlyfrom the peripheral edge 70 thereof. A terminal disc 72 is journaled onthe shaft 53 and has its peripheral edge 73 closely adjacent to butspaced inwardly from the flange 71. An upstanding annular flange 74 isformed on the disc 72 providing a socket 75 to receive the T-nut 56 ascan be seen in FIG. 5.

Each of the discs 63, 66, 69, 72 on their upper flat surfaces betweentheir respective peripheral edges and flanges are provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced L-shaped menu indicia card holders76 which are adapted to receive a plurality of menu indicia cards 77.The menu indicia cards 77 are adapted to be slid radially inwardly fromthe outer peripheral edge of the respective disc into the L-shapedretainers 76 with the discs removed from the shaft 53. In the positionillustrated in FIG. with the discs all in place on the shaft 53 andsecured thereto by the T-shaped nut 56, the respective annular flangewithin which each disc is positioned retains the menu indicia cards intheir respective retainer 76.

It should be noted that the top edges of the respective annular flanges65, 68, 71 and 74 may be notched to improve the finger grip whenrotating the discs on the shaft 53. The discs 63, 66, 69 and 72 are eachprovided with a plurality of detent sockets 78 for the respective detentballs 60 to engage so that the discs can be rotated to a desiredalignment and will be then held in this position by the detents 60 untilit is desired to rotate them to another desired alignment.

A stairstepped open aligning guide G is secured at its upper end to thenut 56 by a screw S and at its lower end to the edge of the base 54 by ascrew 8. The aligned menu cards may be read through the guide Gv In FIG.4 there is illustrated an arrangement of menu indicia card holders 76such that there would be six menu cards on the disc 72, 12 on the disc69, 18 on the disc 66, and 24 on the disc 63. However, it should beunderstood that any desired number of menu indicia cards 77 may bepositioned on the respective discs.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 10, another modified form of multiplemenu selector is generally indicated at 80. The multiple menu selector80 includes a generally rectangular bottom wall 81, a longitudinallyextending sidewall 82 secured thereto, and a pair of oppositely disposedend walls 83, 84 secured thereto in spaced parallel relation. Aplurality of partition walls 85 extend across the bottom wall 81perpendicular to the sidewall 82 and are arranged in spaced parallelrelation and parallel to the end walls 83, 84. The end walls 83, 84 andthe partition walls 85 form a plurality of compartments.

A generally rectangular transparent plastic top wall 86 is releasablysecured to the end walls 83, 84 by a plurality of screws 87 and isprovided with a plurality of slots 88 which are arranged centrally ofthe compartments formed by the end walls 83, 84 and the partition walls85 extending from adjacent the side edge of the top wall 86 opposite thesidewall 82 to a point intermediate the side edges of the top wall 86.The slot 88 has stepped side edges 89, as can be seen in FIG. 10, toreceive a threaded tubular detent socket 90 having a T-head 91 securedto the upper end thereof. A detent ball 92 is seated in a reduced endportion 93 of the socket 90 and is held therein by a spring 94maintained in its position by a threaded e top wall 86 has an opaquecoating with a plurality of visual windows 96 formed therein for reasonsto be assigned.

A bar 97 is positioned in each of the compartments for endwise slidingmovement therein and the threaded detent socket 90 is threaded into thebar 97 so that the detent ball 92 extends through the lower surfacethereof for engagement with a detent socket 98 formed in the bottom wall81 underlying the slot 88.

The bar 97 is adapted to be slid in the compartment by means of theT-head 91 which is hollowed out at 99 to form a finger grip.

Each of the bars 97 can be adjusted longitudinally in the compartmentsand retained in adjusted position by engagement of the detent ball 92 inany one of the detent sockets 98 underlying each of the bars 97.

A plurality of transverse grooves 100 are formed in the top surface ofeach of the bars 97 and a menu indicia card 101 is adapted to be securedin each of the slots 100 by retainer beads 102 on opposite side edges ofeach of the grooves 100. With the bar in the position illustrated inFIG. 8, the menu indicia cards 101 are prevented from sliding from thebar by the sidewalls of the compartments within which the bars slide.When it is desired to make changes in the menu, the detent T- head 91and threaded socket 90 is unscrewed and removed permitting the bar 97 tobe slid out of the compartment so that the indicia cards may be slidsideways out of the grooves 100 and replaced.

In the use of the multiple menu selector 80 the bars 97 are slid endwisein the compartments until the desired indicia card 101 is exposedthrough its respective visual window 96 in the top wall 86.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A changeable exhibitor for multiple menu indicia cards comprising:

a plurality of movable supports for a plurality of menu indicia cardsadapted to align a selected indicia card on each support with selectedindicia cards on adjacent supm ans so mounting the indicia cards to thesupports as to constrain the indicia cards against movement lengthwiseof the supports while facilitating movement of the indicia cardslaterally of the supports,

a single resilient means located on one side of said plurality ofsupports normally biasing the supports into adjacent relation relativeto one another while permitting the separation of one support laterallyfrom the adjacent support at least the width of an indicia card wherebyan in dicia card may be removed and replaced through the space providedby the separation,

detent means resiliently holding each of said supports in indicia cardaligned relation, and

means adjacent each of said supports for blocking removal of saidindicia cards when said supports are in their normal position of use.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supports are rotatabledrums.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means blocking removal ofthe indicia cards comprises a flange on an adjacent drum.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 and:

a shaft,

said drums being rotatably mounted on said shaft; and

said resilient means comprising a spring mounted on said shaft andengaging at least one of said drums to bias said one drum for movementon said shaft in the direction of the next adjacent one of said drums.

1. A changeable exhibitor for multiple menu indicia cards comprising: aplurality of movable supports for a plurality of menu indicia cardsadapted to align a selected indicia card on each support with selectedindicia cards on adjacent supports, means so mounting the indicia cardsto the supports as to constrain the indicia cards against movementlengthWise of the supports while facilitating movement of the indiciacards laterally of the supports, a single resilient means located on oneside of said plurality of supports normally biasing the supports intoadjacent relation relative to one another while permitting theseparation of one support laterally from the adjacent support at leastthe width of an indicia card whereby an indicia card may be removed andreplaced through the space provided by the separation, detent meansresiliently holding each of said supports in indicia card alignedrelation, and means adjacent each of said supports for blocking removalof said indicia cards when said supports are in their normal position ofuse.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supports arerotatable drums.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the meansblocking removal of the indicia cards comprises a flange on an adjacentdrum.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3 and: a shaft, said drums beingrotatably mounted on said shaft; and said resilient means comprising aspring mounted on said shaft and engaging at least one of said drums tobias said one drum for movement on said shaft in the direction of thenext adjacent one of said drums.